Computer having an expansion card cage assembly

Abstract

A computer in which an expansion card cage assembly is mounted in the computer chassis. The expansion card cage assembly includes a wall extending parallel to the chassis wall, a riser card mounted relative to the wall of the cage assembly and having a connector adapted to engage the connector of the motherboard, and at least one expansion card connected to the riser card. A lever is provided on the cage assembly wall and is adapted to engage the chassis wall to quick-detachably connect the cage assembly to the chassis.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An assembly for installation in a computer chassis comprising: at least one upright chassis wall including a slot formed therein;   a cage assembly having a first cage assembly wall extending parallel to the chassis wall;   at least one expansion card mounted to the first cage assembly wall;   a lever pivotally mounted in the first cage assembly wall engaging the chassis wall to quick-detachably connect the cage assembly to the chassis; and   a post formed on the lever and extending in the slot formed in the chassis wall.   
     
     
       2. The cage assembly of claim 1 wherein the cage assembly further comprises an additional wall extending perpendicular to the first-mentioned cage assembly wall and having a plurality of slots formed therein, and wherein the chassis has an additional wall extending perpendicular to its first-mentioned chassis wall and having an opening extending therethrough, the additional wall of the cage assembly extending in the opening in the additional chassis wall so that the slots in the additional wall of the cage assembly permit access to the expansion cards. 
     
     
       3. The cage assembly of claim 1 further comprising hooks formed on the cage assembly wall for engaging mated slots formed in the chassis wall. 
     
     
       4. The cage assembly of claim 1 further comprising a tab formed on the cage assembly and adapted to engage a mated slot formed on the chassis. 
     
     
       5. The cage assembly of claim 1 further comprising a riser card extending parallel to the cage assembly wall, a first connector mounted on the riser board for engaging a connector on a motherboard in the chassis, and a second connector connected to the riser board for receiving an expansion card. 
     
     
       6. An assembly for installation into a computer chassis comprising: a cage assembly mounted in the chassis, the chassis having a slot formed therein;   an expansion card mounted in the cage assembly;   a lever pivotally mounted on the cage assembly engaging the chassis to quick-detachably connect the cage assembly to the chassis; and   a post formed on the lever and extending into the slot formed in the chassis.   
     
     
       7. A method of installing an expansion card in a computer chassis having an upright wall comprising the steps of: providing a card cage;   mounting the expansion card relative to a cage wall;   providing a lever on the cage wall;   inserting the cage wall and therefore the expansion card in the chassis;   pivoting the lever into engagement with the upright wall of the chassis to quick-detachably connect the expansion card to the chassis; and   providing a slot in the upright chassis wall which is engaged by the lever.   
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7 wherein the expansion card is connected to a riser card attached to the cage wall and wherein, during the step of pivoting, the lever forces the riser card into engagement with a motherboard connector on the chassis. 
     
     
       9. A method of installing an expansion card in a computer chassis comprising the steps of: providing a cage assembly;   mounting the expansion card relative to the cage assembly;   providing a lever including a post on the cage assembly;   inserting the cage assembly including the expansion card in the chassis;   pivoting the lever into engagement with the chassis to quick-detachably connect the expansion card to the chassis; and   providing a slot in the chassis which is engaged by the post of the lever.